Hello, and welcome
to Jesus for Asia Now.
00:00:21.68\00:00:23.95
I'm so glad you
could join us today.
00:00:23.99\00:00:25.85
I'm Natalie
Wood, and today I have
00:00:25.89\00:00:27.59
brother Gem Castor with me.
00:00:27.62\00:00:29.66
He is a missionary.
00:00:29.69\00:00:31.46
And, Gem, where are
you a missionary from?
00:00:31.49\00:00:35.70
I'm a missionary
from the Philippines
00:00:35.73\00:00:38.00
but I barely stay
in the Philippines.
00:00:38.03\00:00:40.47
And where are
you a missionary too?
00:00:40.50\00:00:42.64
Wherever the Lord
leads me, Natalie.
00:00:42.67\00:00:44.61
Okay, so you go
all over the place.
00:00:44.64\00:00:47.04
Yes, wherever
the Lord sends, I go.
00:00:47.08\00:00:49.28
Okay.
00:00:49.31\00:00:50.38
Now we're doing a couple
of different shows with you,
00:00:50.41\00:00:52.15
so people may have
seen you already once.
00:00:52.18\00:00:54.65
This show, we're going
to be talking a little more
00:00:54.68\00:00:56.69
about the kind of
ministry that God has you doing.
00:00:56.72\00:00:58.99
Okay.
00:00:59.02\00:01:00.09
Where you're going
and what you're doing.
00:01:00.12\00:01:02.42
So do you want
to start out, maybe,
00:01:02.46\00:01:04.86
by telling us a little bit about
00:01:04.89\00:01:06.63
how you got into ministry?
00:01:06.66\00:01:08.66
I know we've covered
that little more fully
00:01:08.70\00:01:10.47
in a different show but
maybe a little bit about
00:01:10.50\00:01:12.73
how God got you started.
00:01:12.77\00:01:13.97
Okay.
00:01:14.00\00:01:15.04
So actually, I'm now
in the prayer ministry.
00:01:15.07\00:01:18.34
Most of the things
that I've been doing
00:01:18.37\00:01:19.94
is involved with
prayer, revival and reformation.
00:01:19.97\00:01:23.11
And it all started actually
with one of the projects
00:01:23.14\00:01:26.31
of Jesus for
Asia and faith camp.
00:01:26.35\00:01:29.75
I was not really attracted
to the prayer ministry.
00:01:29.78\00:01:34.66
I love doing things for the Lord
00:01:34.69\00:01:37.73
but not really prayer,
00:01:37.76\00:01:38.76
not really
spending time with God
00:01:38.79\00:01:40.70
because for me, like
spending time in prayer,
00:01:40.73\00:01:44.47
it's such a waste.
00:01:44.50\00:01:46.27
That was what I
was thinking before.
00:01:46.30\00:01:48.34
Okay.
00:01:48.37\00:01:49.60
But the Lord brought
me to the prayer ministry
00:01:49.64\00:01:53.38
through the prayer
room and faith camp.
00:01:53.41\00:01:56.18
And the Lord showed me
00:01:56.21\00:01:57.61
that there is more
that you could accomplish,
00:01:57.65\00:02:01.18
if you bend your knees
00:02:01.22\00:02:02.62
because it's not going to
be by your might, by your power
00:02:02.65\00:02:06.86
but only by His Spirit.
00:02:06.89\00:02:09.12
Okay.
00:02:09.16\00:02:10.16
So you help
with prayer ministry.
00:02:10.19\00:02:13.53
And you share testimonies
of what God is doing.
00:02:13.56\00:02:15.86
Yes. Okay.
00:02:15.90\00:02:17.70
So where have you traveled to?
00:02:17.73\00:02:19.40
I guess one of
my first experiences
00:02:19.43\00:02:21.94
and before that,
Natalie, I was somehow inspired
00:02:21.97\00:02:25.74
by one testimony of one pastor
who talked about George Miller.
00:02:25.77\00:02:31.41
And, you know, George
Miller lived in a time
00:02:31.45\00:02:33.82
where nobody somehow
believed that there is a God
00:02:33.85\00:02:36.42
who hears and answers prayer.
00:02:36.45\00:02:37.89
And yet this person,
00:02:37.92\00:02:39.79
this missionary
tried to prove to people
00:02:39.82\00:02:42.56
that there is a God who
hears and answers prayer.
00:02:42.59\00:02:45.33
So whenever he needed something,
00:02:45.36\00:02:47.13
he only brings it to the Lord.
00:02:47.20\00:02:49.16
And if the answer
comes, when the answer comes,
00:02:49.20\00:02:52.80
he knows for a fact that
the answer came from God.
00:02:52.83\00:02:55.94
That was his agreement with God.
00:02:55.97\00:02:57.21
Yes. And I said to the Lord.
00:02:57.24\00:02:59.61
"If You want me
to be a missionary,
00:02:59.64\00:03:01.18
then I'll do a
similar walk like that.
00:03:01.21\00:03:04.38
I will not depend on people.
00:03:04.41\00:03:06.41
I will only depend on
You just to really know
00:03:06.45\00:03:09.78
if You are the same
God that George Miller
00:03:09.82\00:03:11.92
is talking about."
00:03:11.95\00:03:13.86
And by God's
grace, the Lord showed me
00:03:13.89\00:03:16.36
every step of the way
00:03:16.39\00:03:18.53
that all we had to
do is lean on Him fully.
00:03:18.56\00:03:22.63
Wait upon the Lord and see
00:03:22.66\00:03:24.70
the Lord's leading in direction.
00:03:24.73\00:03:27.30
So this is what you do?
00:03:27.34\00:03:28.80
This is what I do.
00:03:28.84\00:03:29.90
At first, it was scary
because I was somehow trained
00:03:29.94\00:03:35.51
to fend for myself
even when I was young.
00:03:35.54\00:03:38.95
I was a businessman even before
I entered elementary school.
00:03:38.98\00:03:43.62
I was already selling
stuff in our neighborhood.
00:03:43.65\00:03:46.29
So my parents taught us,
00:03:46.32\00:03:47.82
"If you want something,
you have to work for it.
00:03:47.86\00:03:50.09
You have to plan out
things in your life,"
00:03:50.13\00:03:52.89
And when I became a
conference youth leader,
00:03:52.93\00:03:57.40
so you have to
plan out activities...
00:03:57.43\00:04:01.37
Lots of details.
00:04:01.40\00:04:02.67
Conferences like the faith camp,
00:04:02.70\00:04:04.37
like mission conference,
you know how that works.
00:04:04.41\00:04:06.94
You could not just lay it
off and just go somewhere else.
00:04:06.98\00:04:11.05
But in the missionary
work, it's the exact opposite.
00:04:11.08\00:04:14.12
Sometimes all your plans gets...
00:04:14.15\00:04:17.92
Flipped around or changed or...
00:04:17.95\00:04:20.32
Or edited. Yeah.
00:04:20.36\00:04:21.56
Or scrapped out.
00:04:21.59\00:04:23.56
And God's plan
needs to be pursued.
00:04:23.59\00:04:26.06
So this is one thing that
I've been learning in the life
00:04:26.09\00:04:29.36
in this walk with God.
00:04:29.40\00:04:30.87
And beautiful thought as
well in the Spirit of Prophecy
00:04:30.90\00:04:34.74
which says when Jesus
was here in this earth,
00:04:34.77\00:04:38.04
He did not plan for His life.
00:04:38.07\00:04:40.38
He did not plan for Himself.
00:04:40.41\00:04:43.18
The Father planned for Him.
00:04:43.21\00:04:45.68
And that's the same
counsel from that quote as well
00:04:45.71\00:04:48.25
from Help in
Daily Living that says,
00:04:48.28\00:04:50.22
"Let God plan for you."
00:04:50.25\00:04:52.32
So I tried that and it works.
00:04:52.35\00:04:55.79
And it's more amazing
because during the time
00:04:55.82\00:04:58.53
that I was planning for myself,
I was filled with stress.
00:04:58.56\00:05:02.06
I was filled...
00:05:02.10\00:05:03.37
And, yes, I'm a
happy kind of guy
00:05:03.40\00:05:05.33
but I am quite
paranoid sometimes,
00:05:05.37\00:05:09.40
especially during the time
00:05:09.44\00:05:10.87
that I was not
surrendered to the Lord.
00:05:10.91\00:05:14.81
Surrender, there's an
important word right there.
00:05:14.84\00:05:18.51
Yes.
00:05:18.55\00:05:19.81
Because without it, you'd
be completely stressed out
00:05:19.85\00:05:22.62
all the time even still.
00:05:22.65\00:05:23.72
Oh, yeah.
00:05:23.75\00:05:24.85
Because you think
somehow you had to do something.
00:05:24.89\00:05:26.99
Yes.
00:05:27.02\00:05:28.42
And this is one thing
when we talk about surrender,
00:05:28.46\00:05:31.73
it looks or it sounds so scary.
00:05:31.76\00:05:35.53
It sounds so scary.
00:05:35.56\00:05:36.70
And surrender in
itself sounds like a defeat.
00:05:36.73\00:05:42.04
It's like giving up.
00:05:42.07\00:05:44.84
But actually, it is
giving up but it's not a defeat.
00:05:44.87\00:05:48.81
Giving up to the Lord means
00:05:48.84\00:05:50.51
the Lord could
begin to win in your life.
00:05:50.55\00:05:53.72
That's a good way to look at it.
00:05:53.75\00:05:55.58
Yeah, because
before I was being defeated
00:05:55.62\00:05:58.99
again, and again, and again.
00:05:59.02\00:06:00.42
During our conference
before, I could not function,
00:06:00.46\00:06:05.33
I could not even swallow
more than two spoons of food.
00:06:05.36\00:06:09.86
I get so tense up
like, my throat closes up.
00:06:09.90\00:06:13.44
But then I begin to see a life
00:06:13.47\00:06:15.84
that is surrendered to the Lord.
00:06:15.87\00:06:17.51
It's just amazing.
00:06:17.54\00:06:19.37
And a life lived for
Him, a surrendered life,
00:06:19.41\00:06:22.34
it's just a beautiful life.
00:06:22.38\00:06:25.38
And I know you have some
stories to share with us.
00:06:25.41\00:06:28.08
But first, I want to ask you,
00:06:28.12\00:06:29.98
why do you call
yourself a missionary?
00:06:30.02\00:06:32.39
I mean, isn't a missionary
just somebody that goes
00:06:32.42\00:06:34.42
and lives overseas somewhere?
00:06:34.46\00:06:36.39
What is a missionary?
00:06:36.42\00:06:37.86
I guess a missionary is a person
00:06:37.89\00:06:39.43
who does the will of the father.
00:06:39.46\00:06:41.70
Whatever we're doing
whether we are nurses,
00:06:41.73\00:06:46.10
we are
teachers, we are students,
00:06:46.13\00:06:48.37
we are not
actually just a student,
00:06:48.40\00:06:51.31
just a teacher, just
a doctor, just a nurse.
00:06:51.34\00:06:55.51
We are missionary doctors,
we are missionary nurses,
00:06:55.54\00:06:59.35
we are missionary students,
we are missionary teachers.
00:06:59.38\00:07:04.02
And this is one
thing that I'm seeing.
00:07:04.05\00:07:06.09
Being a missionary is doing
that what is in front of you
00:07:06.12\00:07:11.19
for the glory of God.
00:07:11.23\00:07:13.26
Whatever it is that
would give glory to God,
00:07:13.29\00:07:15.50
and anything that
would give glory to God
00:07:15.53\00:07:18.43
would be beneficial
for the people around you,
00:07:18.47\00:07:21.07
and for you eventually.
00:07:21.10\00:07:23.81
So missionary
isn't just somewhere off
00:07:23.84\00:07:27.44
in a foreign land,
in a jungle somewhere...
00:07:27.48\00:07:29.48
No. No, we put...
00:07:29.51\00:07:31.28
It's wherever God
has you. Amen, yes.
00:07:31.31\00:07:34.45
Obeying Him. Yeah.
00:07:34.48\00:07:36.28
And when people ask me, Natalie,
00:07:36.32\00:07:38.19
so where is your mission field?
00:07:38.22\00:07:39.99
And it's quite
difficult because I don't have
00:07:40.02\00:07:42.06
a permanent mission field.
00:07:42.09\00:07:43.89
I go wherever the Lord sends me.
00:07:43.93\00:07:45.99
I remember, when I talk
to you about George Miller,
00:07:46.03\00:07:52.03
I decided that I
will not ask people
00:07:52.07\00:07:55.14
about my needs.
00:07:55.17\00:07:57.17
And I follow George
Miller example as well,
00:07:57.21\00:08:00.08
and I guess that is
the example of Christ.
00:08:00.11\00:08:02.74
And I decided
not to be employed,
00:08:02.78\00:08:06.48
not to receive any salary,
00:08:06.51\00:08:08.68
not to receive
any regular stipend.
00:08:08.72\00:08:11.62
I only depend on the Lord
00:08:11.65\00:08:12.95
and to see how the
Lord will fully lead,
00:08:12.99\00:08:16.22
and to how fully
provide, it has been amazing.
00:08:16.26\00:08:20.60
It has been
beautiful, wonderful.
00:08:20.63\00:08:22.83
Every single step of the
way, the Lord does provide.
00:08:22.86\00:08:27.80
Wow. Okay.
00:08:27.84\00:08:28.97
So we want to start
having some testimonies.
00:08:29.00\00:08:33.38
I know, you have
a lot of testimonies
00:08:33.41\00:08:35.54
of how you got started,
and how the Lord has led.
00:08:35.58\00:08:38.58
I know that one of your
testimonies is quite long,
00:08:38.61\00:08:41.75
it's very involved
00:08:41.78\00:08:43.28
but if you can
maybe share a little?
00:08:43.32\00:08:44.92
Yeah, sure.
00:08:44.95\00:08:46.69
Yeah, that's a
full sermon. Yeah.
00:08:46.72\00:08:49.09
So actually, when my
friends invited me to...
00:08:49.12\00:08:53.80
encouraged me to
apply for Amazing Facts,
00:08:53.83\00:08:57.40
I was hesitant because
I don't have a US visa,
00:08:57.43\00:09:01.50
and having a US visa
especially for us, Filipinos,
00:09:01.54\00:09:04.64
it's quite difficult.
00:09:04.67\00:09:06.21
It's like winning a lottery.
00:09:06.24\00:09:08.84
But for people like me
00:09:08.88\00:09:10.15
that does not have any
business, or any salary,
00:09:10.18\00:09:15.25
or any regular
thing that links us
00:09:15.28\00:09:17.95
back to the Philippines,
it's quite impossible.
00:09:17.99\00:09:21.86
So they encouraged me.
00:09:21.89\00:09:23.12
"Gem, if you want,
if you believe that
00:09:23.16\00:09:26.53
God has been
leading you in your life,
00:09:26.56\00:09:28.40
if you have been
walking by faith,
00:09:28.43\00:09:29.86
why not walk by faith now?"
00:09:29.90\00:09:31.80
So I took that... Challenge.
00:09:31.83\00:09:34.07
Challenge and moved forward
but I did not have faith in me.
00:09:34.10\00:09:38.64
So I prayed to the
Lord, prayed hard to God.
00:09:38.67\00:09:41.81
This is one
amazing thing about God
00:09:41.84\00:09:43.55
because God will enable us.
00:09:43.58\00:09:47.15
Whenever He asks
us to follow His beat
00:09:47.18\00:09:50.22
that He will enable us.
00:09:50.25\00:09:51.82
To make long story
short, I applied for a US visa
00:09:51.85\00:09:55.69
and the moment I was
there ready for the interview,
00:09:55.72\00:09:58.29
before the interview began,
I was just, I was in panic,
00:09:58.33\00:10:04.80
and I did not even
know what I was experiencing
00:10:04.83\00:10:09.10
that I was having panic attack.
00:10:09.14\00:10:11.97
All my insides
were trying to come out,
00:10:12.01\00:10:14.08
my throat begin to close up.
00:10:14.11\00:10:16.31
And I need somewhere to pray.
00:10:16.34\00:10:19.05
So I went to the bathroom
00:10:19.08\00:10:20.52
because this is
not a beautiful picture
00:10:20.55\00:10:23.55
that will happen.
00:10:23.59\00:10:24.62
If you get interviewed
and you look so nervous,
00:10:24.65\00:10:27.02
I could just picture
myself being interviewed.
00:10:27.06\00:10:29.39
"What is your name?"
"My name is Gem Castor."
00:10:29.42\00:10:31.93
You fall to the ground.
00:10:31.96\00:10:34.36
You would be denied right away.
00:10:34.36\00:10:36.16
So I went to the
bathroom, I prayed.
00:10:36.20\00:10:38.23
And this is one
amazing thing that I realized
00:10:38.27\00:10:42.37
that if we seek God
with all our hearts,
00:10:42.40\00:10:45.27
any place in this world,
no matter how dirty it is,
00:10:45.31\00:10:48.91
no matter how
uncomfortable it is,
00:10:48.94\00:10:51.21
it becomes a prayer room,
00:10:51.25\00:10:53.68
and the Lord's
presence will be there with us,
00:10:53.72\00:10:55.92
any place in this world.
00:10:55.95\00:10:57.39
So the Lord gave me that peace
that passeth understanding.
00:10:57.42\00:11:00.52
And when I came out
ready for the interview,
00:11:00.56\00:11:03.43
the first question it was asked,
00:11:03.46\00:11:05.56
"How much is
your monthly income?
00:11:05.59\00:11:07.13
Oh, boy.
00:11:07.13\00:11:08.90
You know, I don't have anything.
00:11:08.93\00:11:10.70
So the Lord just
prompted me, "Be honest."
00:11:10.73\00:11:13.67
So I said, "I'm sorry, sir,
00:11:13.70\00:11:14.74
but I don't have
a monthly income.
00:11:14.77\00:11:16.91
I don't earn anything."
He said, "Why is that?"
00:11:16.94\00:11:19.84
"I'm a
missionary volunteer, sir,
00:11:19.87\00:11:21.38
so I don't get
paid for my work."
00:11:21.41\00:11:23.81
"Then how do you live?"
00:11:23.85\00:11:27.28
"I live by faith, sir."
00:11:27.32\00:11:29.45
And then he got so irritated
because he thought that
00:11:29.48\00:11:31.95
I was not taking him seriously.
00:11:31.99\00:11:33.56
Oh, boy.
00:11:33.59\00:11:34.59
So he asked me,
"I live by faith too
00:11:34.62\00:11:37.49
but tell me how
do you really live?
00:11:37.53\00:11:39.46
How do you buy your food?
How do you buy your clothes?"
00:11:39.49\00:11:42.36
And I said, "The
Lord provides, sir."
00:11:42.40\00:11:44.37
He got even more irritated.
00:11:44.40\00:11:47.30
He took my
passport, he looked at it,
00:11:47.34\00:11:49.94
and that's the only
document I have, my passport.
00:11:49.97\00:11:52.91
And he said, "If
you're not paid for your work,
00:11:52.94\00:11:54.94
how come you travel so much?"
00:11:54.98\00:11:56.98
And I said, "Sir, I'm
in the prayer ministry
00:11:57.01\00:11:59.21
and I pray to the Lord,
the Lord will supply my needs."
00:11:59.25\00:12:03.49
And he said, "Okay,
but how about your hotel?
00:12:03.52\00:12:06.49
How about your food?"
00:12:06.52\00:12:07.99
I said, "Sir, I live in
the homes of those people
00:12:08.02\00:12:10.16
who invited me
and they feed me,"
00:12:10.19\00:12:11.59
which is true.
00:12:11.63\00:12:13.56
He's running out of questions.
00:12:13.60\00:12:16.06
And he asked me
this difficult question,
00:12:16.10\00:12:19.80
"How about emergencies?
00:12:19.83\00:12:20.90
Do you encounter emergencies?"
00:12:20.94\00:12:22.27
And I said, "Yes, sir.
Emergencies are unavoidable."
00:12:22.30\00:12:25.21
"Now how are you able
to pay for emergencies?"
00:12:25.24\00:12:27.48
I said, "Sir,
the Lord is faithful
00:12:27.51\00:12:29.14
that the Lord provides
the right amount of money
00:12:29.18\00:12:31.38
for the right
amount of emergency."
00:12:31.41\00:12:34.38
And then he asked me,
00:12:34.42\00:12:35.58
"So you receive
money for emergencies?"
00:12:35.62\00:12:37.35
I said, "Mm-hmm. Yes, sir."
00:12:37.39\00:12:39.02
He said, "You just lied to me."
00:12:39.05\00:12:41.96
And then he
said, "You know what,
00:12:41.99\00:12:44.29
because a while ago,
you're telling me that
00:12:44.33\00:12:45.73
you don't receive
any amount of money
00:12:45.76\00:12:47.20
for your work.
00:12:47.23\00:12:48.76
And now you're telling
me that you receive money
00:12:48.80\00:12:50.30
for emergency.
00:12:50.33\00:12:51.63
You just lied to me."
00:12:51.67\00:12:53.30
And I said, "Sir,"
00:12:53.34\00:12:55.07
and this is one
thing amazing about God,
00:12:55.10\00:12:57.27
because I could not
have answered that question.
00:12:57.31\00:12:59.87
If you remember
my situation before,
00:12:59.91\00:13:01.98
I would have just collapse
and die in front of him.
00:13:02.01\00:13:05.78
And God is so amazing that
00:13:05.81\00:13:07.58
before he even finished
the question, the answer came.
00:13:07.62\00:13:12.05
And I told him,
"Sir, a while ago,
00:13:12.09\00:13:15.79
you're asking me for a
regular monthly income.
00:13:15.82\00:13:18.89
But emergencies
are not regular."
00:13:18.93\00:13:23.53
That's a smart answer, isn't it?
00:13:23.57\00:13:26.53
And, Natalie,
I'm not that smart.
00:13:26.57\00:13:28.67
None of us are, really.
00:13:28.70\00:13:30.51
Especially me.
00:13:30.54\00:13:32.77
And before he could even
say anything, I told him,
00:13:32.81\00:13:37.85
"Sir, I wanted to be
honest from the very beginning.
00:13:37.88\00:13:41.92
I want to give...
00:13:41.95\00:13:43.35
I don't want to
give you a salary range
00:13:43.39\00:13:44.65
that I don't earn.
00:13:44.69\00:13:45.75
And I don't want to
give you a bank account
00:13:45.79\00:13:47.02
that I don't have.
00:13:47.06\00:13:48.52
I don't have a bank account
and I have been living by faith
00:13:48.56\00:13:51.23
for the past two years."
00:13:51.26\00:13:53.80
He gave a big sigh and said,
00:13:53.83\00:13:56.70
"Then tell me, how
should I fill in this question,
00:13:56.73\00:13:59.20
your monthly income?"
00:13:59.23\00:14:00.87
We're still in
question number one.
00:14:00.90\00:14:03.27
And I said, "I'm
sorry, sir. I don't know."
00:14:03.30\00:14:06.57
"Okay, monthly income,"
he typed in, not applicable.
00:14:06.61\00:14:11.48
He asked me a few more questions
00:14:11.51\00:14:12.88
and he told me,
"Congratulations,
00:14:12.91\00:14:15.35
your application
has been approved."
00:14:15.38\00:14:18.02
And I could not believe myself.
00:14:18.05\00:14:21.26
And then the moment I went out,
00:14:21.29\00:14:23.79
I called my
sister and she was crying
00:14:23.83\00:14:25.29
on the other end when she heard,
00:14:25.33\00:14:27.13
and I was crying
on the other end.
00:14:27.13\00:14:28.76
She said, "It's really
God's will for you to go."
00:14:28.80\00:14:30.83
Yeah.
00:14:30.87\00:14:31.97
It was really God's will
because before I even stood up,
00:14:32.00\00:14:35.50
impression the Holy Spirit came,
00:14:35.54\00:14:38.47
"When you get
your visa approved,
00:14:38.51\00:14:40.14
it's not because of who
you are because you are nobody.
00:14:40.18\00:14:43.91
It's not
because of what you have
00:14:43.95\00:14:45.75
because you have nothing,
but only because of God."
00:14:45.78\00:14:49.18
And there, I
begin to realize that
00:14:49.22\00:14:51.82
God wants His
fingerprints, His signature
00:14:51.85\00:14:55.76
in every testimony of our lives,
00:14:55.79\00:14:58.66
in every wonderful thing
that happens in our lives.
00:14:58.69\00:15:01.16
He wants us to acknowledge
Him that it's all because of Him
00:15:01.20\00:15:05.20
and Him alone.
00:15:05.23\00:15:07.00
And, you know, after
that I receive the visa,
00:15:07.04\00:15:12.24
they gave me a 10
year multiple entry.
00:15:12.27\00:15:15.28
Wow, that is a
God thing for sure.
00:15:15.31\00:15:17.05
That is a God thing.
00:15:17.08\00:15:18.55
And I guess God just
wants to make it clear
00:15:18.58\00:15:21.88
that we will not think
that this is a coincidence,
00:15:21.92\00:15:25.09
He wants us to know
it's all because of Him.
00:15:25.12\00:15:27.92
Do you think God
wants to be a part
00:15:27.96\00:15:29.19
of every decision in your life?
00:15:29.22\00:15:30.63
Oh, every single decision,
no matter how small it is.
00:15:30.66\00:15:34.73
So nothing that you do
you can do on your own?
00:15:34.76\00:15:37.87
No.
00:15:37.90\00:15:39.23
We are nothing without God.
00:15:39.27\00:15:41.00
That beautiful
quote that I really love,
00:15:41.04\00:15:44.64
"Man can do
nothing without God."
00:15:44.67\00:15:47.78
And we think
sometimes that we can...
00:15:47.81\00:15:50.55
"It's okay, God, I've got this.
00:15:50.58\00:15:52.58
I'm doing fine,
00:15:52.61\00:15:53.75
I can make this
decision on my own."
00:15:53.78\00:15:56.22
And He promised
He will instruct us
00:15:56.25\00:15:58.89
and lead us and
teach us and guide us
00:15:58.92\00:16:02.26
in the way which thou shall go.
00:16:02.29\00:16:05.09
So why do we want
to follow our own will
00:16:05.13\00:16:09.70
when we have an eternal guide?
00:16:09.73\00:16:11.87
And He knows
everything. He knows everything.
00:16:11.90\00:16:13.60
And He knows
already the response
00:16:13.64\00:16:16.34
or the ending result
of every possible decision
00:16:16.37\00:16:19.27
we could make.
00:16:19.31\00:16:21.51
And following Him,
following Him is never boring.
00:16:21.54\00:16:25.51
Follow His decision
00:16:25.55\00:16:26.85
you'll never make
the wrong decision
00:16:26.88\00:16:28.92
if it's not your decision.
00:16:28.95\00:16:30.55
That's right.
00:16:30.59\00:16:32.15
And then if trouble
comes you go, "Lord,
00:16:32.19\00:16:34.66
what are You gonna do?"
00:16:34.69\00:16:35.76
Yeah.
00:16:35.79\00:16:36.96
"How are You
gonna deal with this?"
00:16:36.99\00:16:38.89
It's not what am I
going to do. Right.
00:16:38.93\00:16:41.56
Like, "Okay Lord,
I'll just stand back,
00:16:41.60\00:16:44.17
I want to see
you working in this."
00:16:44.20\00:16:46.74
Wow. Well, that's awesome.
00:16:46.77\00:16:49.00
And I know you
have other testimonies.
00:16:49.04\00:16:51.51
I know that you travel a lot.
00:16:51.54\00:16:53.74
So do you have any
testimonies of maybe
00:16:53.78\00:16:55.91
a divine
appointment while traveling?
00:16:55.94\00:16:58.91
Just like last
year, almost last year
00:16:58.95\00:17:01.35
it was September last year,
00:17:01.38\00:17:02.58
I was having a
layover in Las Vegas
00:17:02.62\00:17:05.65
and flying to Seattle
and there was this guy
00:17:05.69\00:17:08.79
who was sitting
beside me and I was all...
00:17:08.82\00:17:10.96
I'm always praying
when I travel, "Lord,
00:17:10.99\00:17:14.56
I want missions, I
don't want vacation."
00:17:14.56\00:17:17.83
And this guy sat beside me
00:17:17.87\00:17:19.10
and he asked me
about some things,
00:17:19.13\00:17:21.64
asked about my name, about...
00:17:21.67\00:17:25.07
What you're doing.
00:17:25.11\00:17:26.68
And when I told
him, "I'm a missionary,"
00:17:26.71\00:17:28.84
and then he looked at me,
he said, "Wow, that's weird."
00:17:28.88\00:17:31.15
And he said, "No, no, no.
00:17:31.18\00:17:32.25
I'm not telling
you that you're weird
00:17:32.28\00:17:34.02
but it's a weird
situation because
00:17:34.05\00:17:35.92
you're the second
missionary that I met today."
00:17:35.95\00:17:38.99
And he mentioned about
something about numbers,
00:17:39.02\00:17:42.39
he said, "I just
want to ask you about
00:17:42.42\00:17:44.93
this experience that I have.
00:17:44.96\00:17:47.23
I don't even know
why I'm asking you this
00:17:47.30\00:17:49.23
but I'm just prompted to ask you
00:17:49.26\00:17:51.40
because last year
when we came here,
00:17:51.43\00:17:53.67
I received my
receipt in a restaurant
00:17:53.70\00:17:58.31
that we have dinner
and then I saw my receipt,
00:17:58.34\00:18:01.08
it's $ 77.70.
00:18:01.11\00:18:05.78
It goes there 777,
00:18:05.81\00:18:07.62
so I went to the lottery
and bet on it and I lost it.
00:18:07.65\00:18:12.19
And today before
boarding the plane
00:18:12.22\00:18:16.62
I ordered some
burritos and the lady asked me
00:18:16.66\00:18:19.13
for some extra side of something
00:18:19.16\00:18:20.96
and that I don't usually
order sides of this or that
00:18:21.00\00:18:24.17
but I said yes,
and when I got my bill
00:18:24.20\00:18:27.97
the receipt
told me it's, $7.77."
00:18:28.00\00:18:32.24
He said, "It's just weird
00:18:32.27\00:18:34.38
but I just want
to ask you right now,
00:18:34.41\00:18:37.45
can you make sense of this?"
00:18:37.48\00:18:39.21
And I told the
guy, his name is John.
00:18:39.25\00:18:42.48
I told him, "You know what?
00:18:42.52\00:18:44.19
Actually I think I
can make sense of that.
00:18:44.22\00:18:47.26
I'm a Seventh-day Adventist
00:18:47.29\00:18:49.09
and we have this initiative
called seven, seven, seven.
00:18:49.12\00:18:52.56
We pray seven times a day
00:18:52.59\00:18:55.60
and seven days a
week at 7 am and 7 pm."
00:18:55.63\00:18:59.17
And then he said, "Whoa!
00:18:59.20\00:19:01.44
That's just like creepy.
00:19:01.47\00:19:03.34
Yeah, I'm having
goose bumps right now.
00:19:03.37\00:19:05.31
You just somehow
answered the question
00:19:05.34\00:19:08.81
that I have had in my head
for like more than a year."
00:19:08.84\00:19:13.15
And then we
talked more about God.
00:19:13.18\00:19:15.28
We talked about my
experiences as a missionary,
00:19:15.32\00:19:17.62
that opened a whole thing.
00:19:17.65\00:19:19.35
Him and his wife
Jessica, was so focused
00:19:19.39\00:19:23.09
on our conversation
00:19:23.12\00:19:24.86
and at the end
of our conversation
00:19:24.89\00:19:27.56
he said to me, "Maybe
God is telling me something,
00:19:27.60\00:19:31.20
maybe God is
wanting me to check on
00:19:31.23\00:19:33.84
the Seventh-day
Adventist Church."
00:19:33.87\00:19:35.60
And I told him, "Maybe."
00:19:35.64\00:19:38.74
And then he himself
said to me before we sat,
00:19:38.77\00:19:42.18
before we left
the airplane is that,
00:19:42.21\00:19:45.31
"I think God wants me to
be a Seventh-day Adventist."
00:19:45.35\00:19:48.48
And we have been
communicating for the past year.
00:19:48.52\00:19:51.29
Every time I pray
for him it's so ironic,
00:19:51.32\00:19:56.42
it was so surprising
that after I prayed for him
00:19:56.46\00:20:00.36
like a few days later I
will receive text from him.
00:20:00.40\00:20:03.13
He will send me some
pictures from the slot machines.
00:20:03.16\00:20:06.50
Oh, boy.
00:20:06.53\00:20:07.94
He loves, he
loves to go to casinos.
00:20:07.97\00:20:10.31
And one time he sent
me this slot machine,
00:20:10.34\00:20:13.21
seven, seven,
seven and he told me,
00:20:13.24\00:20:16.64
"God is reminding me again."
00:20:16.68\00:20:19.01
And one amazing thing happened
because just the Saturday ago,
00:20:19.05\00:20:24.62
a few days ago I
received a message from him.
00:20:24.65\00:20:29.59
"Gem, I went to church
today and that was Sabbath."
00:20:29.62\00:20:33.50
And he sent me a picture
00:20:33.53\00:20:35.00
of him and his whole
family together with two kids...
00:20:35.03\00:20:37.67
At a church.
00:20:37.70\00:20:38.93
At a church together with a guy,
00:20:38.97\00:20:40.57
and I don't know
what church that was
00:20:40.60\00:20:42.40
until he posted.
00:20:42.44\00:20:44.04
I received another
picture... On Facebook?
00:20:44.07\00:20:45.84
On Facebook and it said,
"Seventh-day Adventist Church."
00:20:45.87\00:20:49.61
And I was so amazed
and the joy just like,
00:20:49.64\00:20:54.82
"This is amazing.
00:20:54.85\00:20:56.45
This is more than
winning the lottery."
00:20:56.48\00:20:58.59
Yeah, for sure. For sure.
00:20:58.62\00:21:00.36
And he posted in Facebook,
"I went to church today,
00:21:00.39\00:21:03.59
met some amazing
people and it all started
00:21:03.63\00:21:06.90
when I took a plane from Vegas
and I sat down with Gem Castor
00:21:06.93\00:21:11.57
and asked him about
seven, seven, seven."
00:21:11.60\00:21:15.67
Wow. God is good.
00:21:15.70\00:21:18.14
All the time, Natalie.
00:21:18.17\00:21:19.41
And when He's
arranging your schedule,
00:21:19.44\00:21:21.44
He can arrange
other people's schedules
00:21:21.48\00:21:23.11
so you have an
opportunity to meet."
00:21:23.14\00:21:25.58
No coincidence with God. No.
00:21:25.61\00:21:27.92
Every time you make
God, every time you let God
00:21:27.95\00:21:33.29
make the plans for
you, He makes it so well.
00:21:33.32\00:21:37.33
He makes it so adventurous,
He makes it so joyful.
00:21:37.36\00:21:40.90
Okay.
00:21:40.93\00:21:42.40
So, you know, it's so
amazing to hear the testimonies
00:21:42.43\00:21:45.53
and the stories
and you travel a lot.
00:21:45.57\00:21:49.84
Is there anything you
do to share your travels
00:21:49.87\00:21:52.07
with people?
00:21:52.11\00:21:53.88
I have this thing,
it's called the bed blog.
00:21:53.91\00:21:56.85
A bed blog? Bed blog.
00:21:56.88\00:21:58.55
It all started with
just something for fun.
00:21:58.58\00:22:02.08
Because last couple of years ago
00:22:02.12\00:22:05.52
I was traveling for the
Lord and in a two week span
00:22:05.55\00:22:10.83
I already had
slept on eight beds.
00:22:10.86\00:22:13.33
So I'm thinking,
"Oh, it would be cool
00:22:13.36\00:22:15.00
if I take a selfie of
every bed that I sleep on."
00:22:15.03\00:22:18.13
And I post it on my Facebook
00:22:18.17\00:22:19.83
and people
begin to respond that,
00:22:19.87\00:22:21.27
"Wow, Gem, God
has been faithful.
00:22:21.30\00:22:23.24
This is your eighth bed."
00:22:23.27\00:22:24.67
And then I thought of
this as a missionary tool,
00:22:24.71\00:22:27.74
as a ministry tool.
00:22:27.78\00:22:29.68
It's like a proof
that God is faithful
00:22:29.71\00:22:33.52
to the people
who follows His will
00:22:33.55\00:22:35.42
that He will never
ever fail of providing us
00:22:35.45\00:22:38.12
a roof over our head
and a pillow under our head.
00:22:38.15\00:22:41.66
So I begin posting
it and I call this name
00:22:41.69\00:22:44.53
the bed blog.
00:22:44.56\00:22:46.13
And one particular time
00:22:46.16\00:22:48.16
when I was flying
in for my birthday,
00:22:48.20\00:22:52.50
I arrived in California
00:22:52.53\00:22:53.94
and I woke up in
the middle of the night
00:22:53.97\00:22:57.41
and the Lord just prompted
me to spend time with Him
00:22:57.44\00:23:00.14
and I asked the Lord, "Lord,
what do You want me to do?"
00:23:00.18\00:23:03.11
And the song came,
00:23:03.14\00:23:04.25
"Count your
blessings name them one by one,
00:23:04.28\00:23:06.88
count your blessings
and see what God has done."
00:23:06.92\00:23:09.68
And for that whole 12 months
00:23:09.72\00:23:12.62
the Lord had me
recall my blessings
00:23:12.65\00:23:14.79
and I've been to
four different countries
00:23:14.82\00:23:17.33
to 22 different states, 67 beds
00:23:17.36\00:23:22.23
and I'm thinking, "Wow, 67 beds,
00:23:22.26\00:23:25.53
that's more than
the weeks in a year."
00:23:25.57\00:23:28.24
I begin to realize
I sleep on more beds
00:23:28.27\00:23:31.14
than weeks in the year
00:23:31.17\00:23:33.04
and God is just so
amazing, how He is faithful.
00:23:33.07\00:23:35.44
And the last, the last
blessing that I focused on,
00:23:35.48\00:23:40.22
how many airplane
rides, 65 airplane rides
00:23:40.25\00:23:44.39
and all of that
are provided by God.
00:23:44.42\00:23:48.22
It is really true
that we have to look back
00:23:48.26\00:23:50.69
on the Lord's
faithfulness, Natalie.
00:23:50.73\00:23:52.99
Count your blessings
and see what God has done,
00:23:53.03\00:23:56.60
and there you
will begin to realize
00:23:56.63\00:23:58.63
it's not what you have
done, it is all because of God.
00:23:58.67\00:24:03.24
I could not afford maybe
00:24:03.27\00:24:04.81
one tenth of
those airplane rides,
00:24:04.84\00:24:07.41
I could not have
organized maybe one twentieth
00:24:07.44\00:24:11.28
of those bed blogs
that I have experienced.
00:24:11.31\00:24:15.38
It's all God.
00:24:15.42\00:24:17.55
That's what happens
when we fully surrender
00:24:17.59\00:24:19.95
everything to Him.
00:24:19.99\00:24:21.06
He take care of
everything even our beds.
00:24:21.09\00:24:25.93
That's awesome, God is awesome.
00:24:25.96\00:24:27.30
God is awesome.
00:24:27.30\00:24:28.60
That's wonderful
how the Lord led you,
00:24:28.63\00:24:30.93
you know, during
this week of prayer
00:24:30.97\00:24:32.90
that you are having
with the young people.
00:24:32.93\00:24:34.87
And it's not
just because of this
00:24:34.90\00:24:37.41
we can see that
God's not asking you
00:24:37.44\00:24:39.67
just to have this walk with Him.
00:24:39.71\00:24:41.74
What is He
doing in your ministry
00:24:41.78\00:24:44.55
as far as more of
this kind of thing
00:24:44.58\00:24:46.55
mentoring young people?
00:24:46.58\00:24:48.08
This is one
amazing thing, Natalie,
00:24:48.12\00:24:49.48
because when you
experience the Lord's provision,
00:24:49.52\00:24:53.46
guidance and
taking over your life,
00:24:53.49\00:24:56.16
you don't want to
keep it to yourself.
00:24:56.19\00:24:59.09
You want to share
it with other people.
00:24:59.13\00:25:00.96
And when you see other
people take God seriously
00:25:01.00\00:25:04.23
it is just so inspiring.
00:25:04.27\00:25:05.97
So back home a
lot of young people
00:25:06.00\00:25:08.30
have been
inspired by the testimony
00:25:08.34\00:25:10.91
that Lord has given me
00:25:10.94\00:25:12.34
and they're taking
God by His promises,
00:25:12.37\00:25:17.31
taking God at His
word and you could see now
00:25:17.35\00:25:20.38
a lot of, a lot
of young missionaries
00:25:20.42\00:25:23.18
are coming out of
their comfort zone.
00:25:23.22\00:25:25.62
Young people who
have dreams to go abroad
00:25:25.65\00:25:28.72
to work as a
nurse or this or that...
00:25:28.76\00:25:31.89
To earn money.
00:25:31.93\00:25:32.99
To earn money, are
putting their dreams aside
00:25:33.03\00:25:35.73
and following the
Lord's will right now.
00:25:35.76\00:25:38.93
This is our dream to put up
00:25:38.97\00:25:43.54
an outpost for missionaries
00:25:43.57\00:25:46.17
to somehow lead
them and guide them.
00:25:46.21\00:25:48.11
And this is
what's going to happen
00:25:48.14\00:25:50.85
when we do
youth conferences like
00:25:50.88\00:25:53.08
Philippine Youth for Christ.
00:25:53.11\00:25:54.58
And I will be
talking more about that
00:25:54.62\00:25:56.89
to encourage young
people to be and to do
00:25:56.92\00:26:01.29
what God asked them to do.
00:26:01.32\00:26:03.06
And I pray as well for adults
to be supportive for this,
00:26:03.09\00:26:07.93
for these young
people who are going
00:26:07.96\00:26:09.70
and finishing the work.
00:26:09.73\00:26:11.03
And we know for a fact
that the promise is given
00:26:11.07\00:26:13.37
in the Spirit of Prophecy
00:26:13.40\00:26:15.07
that an army of
youth rightly trained
00:26:15.10\00:26:18.51
will be the ones
to finish this work.
00:26:18.54\00:26:20.61
Wow. It is amazing.
00:26:20.64\00:26:22.58
We've been to the conference,
00:26:22.61\00:26:23.75
the Philippine Youth
for Christ Conference
00:26:23.78\00:26:25.51
that has come out
of, these young people
00:26:25.55\00:26:27.45
catching on fire for
God and it's beautiful,
00:26:27.48\00:26:30.15
it's beautiful to
hear their testimonies
00:26:30.19\00:26:31.95
of how God is leading them too.
00:26:31.99\00:26:34.26
So where can people get
a hold of you if they need,
00:26:34.29\00:26:36.89
if they would like to
get in touch with you?
00:26:36.93\00:26:39.16
Maybe they could
get in touch with me
00:26:39.19\00:26:41.43
with, through Facebook.
00:26:41.46\00:26:43.77
Okay.
00:26:43.80\00:26:45.00
They might not be able
to have a friend request in,
00:26:45.03\00:26:51.01
but they could message me
in messenger and Facebook,
00:26:51.04\00:26:53.11
Gem Castor.
00:26:53.14\00:26:54.58
Or they could e-mail me at
gemcastoróprayer@yahoo.com.
00:26:54.61\00:27:00.55
Okay,
gemcastoróprayer@yahoo.com.
00:27:00.58\00:27:05.92
Amen. And it's GEMCASTOR.
00:27:05.95\00:27:09.99
Yes. Okay.
00:27:10.03\00:27:11.39
Well, thank you,
Gem for coming today
00:27:11.43\00:27:12.93
and sharing
your stories with us.
00:27:12.96\00:27:14.83
And God's great.
00:27:14.86\00:27:17.20
Amen. Amazing.
00:27:17.23\00:27:19.30
And I just want to
encourage our viewers
00:27:19.33\00:27:21.84
to let God do the same
kinds of things in their lives.
00:27:21.87\00:27:25.31
Surrender all and
see where He takes you,
00:27:25.34\00:27:27.91
see what He does in your life.
00:27:27.94\00:27:30.11
He will give you
joy in any circumstance
00:27:30.15\00:27:34.15
and He will enable you
to be grateful for anything.
00:27:34.18\00:27:37.99
If you would like to be a part
of enabling these young people
00:27:38.02\00:27:40.62
that Gem was just talking about,
00:27:40.66\00:27:42.69
please send your
tax-deductible love gift
00:27:42.72\00:27:45.33
to Jesus for Asia, PO Box 1221,
00:27:45.36\00:27:48.66
Collegedale, Tennessee 37315.
00:27:48.70\00:27:52.40
Call us at 423-413-7321
00:27:52.43\00:27:56.74
or visit our
website at Jesus4asia.org.
00:27:56.77\00:28:00.51
Thank you for joining
us for Jesus for Asia Now,
00:28:00.54\00:28:03.18
and may God richly
bless you as we work together
00:28:03.21\00:28:06.01
to prepare for
the second coming.
00:28:06.05\00:28:08.02